Vivendi Shares Plunge
For Third Straight Day

A Wall Street Journal Online NEWS ROUNDUP

Updated Aug. 16, 2002 11:59 p.m. ET

PARIS -- Vivendi Universal SA's shares plunged for a third straight day Friday as investors reacted to brokerage downgrades for the embattled French media and utility conglomerate amid doubts about its financial position.

The stock was under pressure all week because of concerns over whether the company can solve its liquidity crisis. Adding to that pressure were credit-rating downgrades by Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors...